Spinning or twisting ring assembly



WCA-KLUTTZ Feb. 2l, 1967 SPINNING OR TWSTING RING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed March 25, 1964 I?? INMYHVTOR: WALTER A. KLUTTZ W` A. KLUTTZ Feb. 2l, 1967 SPINNING OR TWISTING RING ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 25, 1964 United States Patent O 3,304,707 y SPINNING OR TWISTING RING ASSEMBLY Walter A. Kluttz, Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Kluttz Machine & Foundry Co., Gastonia, N.C., a partnership composed of `lo Ann, Jean, Jennie W. and Walter A. Kluttz Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354,672 11 Claims. (Cl. 57-120) This invention relates to spinning Iand twisting rings used in the textile industry and more especially to flanged rings of this type provided with means for lubricating and reversing the wearing surfaces thereof and for anchoring them in ring holders.

A flanged textile ring of the class described is adapted to have mounted thereon a substantially C-shaped strand guide or traveler which is moved around the ring in a well-known manner under the influence of a fibrous strand. During a spinning or twisting operation, the opposite ends of the C-shaped traveler slida-bly engage the inner and outer ringanges, respectively. On account of greater wear and friction between the traveler and the inner flange, ring yfailure usually occurs at the latter flange while other portions of the ring are in relatively good condition.

Heretofore, attempts have been made tocompensate for the above-mentioned premature ring failure by splitting and/or reversibly mounting the inner flange so as to permit replacement and to facilitate the use of more wear-resistant materials in the critical areas. U.S. Patent Nos. 90,956 and 678,266 are typical examples of very early attempts to prolong the life of textile rings by using a separable two-piece flange construction. The advantages of such constructions, however, are offset by added disadvantages such as the presence of .a gap at the proximate ends of the installed split inner flange as shown in the latter patent, or by rendering the inner flange non-reversible as a result of soldering the split ends subsequent to installation as shown in the former patent.

It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioned difliculty by providing a spinning or twisting ring having an endless inner flange reversibly mounted in an expansible outer flange.

It is another object of invention to provide a textile ring of the type described above wherein the outer flange and the reversibly mounted inner flange thereof cooperate to enclose an annular lubricant reservoir, in combination with means for conducting lubricant from the reservoir onto the wearing surfaces of the inner flange.

It is lanother object of invention to provide a spinning or twisting ring having an endless tubular inner flange reversibly mounted in an expansible outer flange, in combination with means for supplying lubricant to the interior of the tubular flange and .another means for conducting the lubricant from within the flange to the outer wearing surfaces thereof.

It is a further object of invention to provide a spinning or twisting ring having an upper resilient and expansible outer flange for releasably securing an endless upper inner flange in position, land also having a lower resilient and contractible outer flange for releasably engaging a non-expansible opening in a ring holder or ring rail whereby the ring is detachably secured in operative position.

It is still another object of invention to provide a spinning or twisting ring in which the upper inner flange thereof consists of an endless insert, circular in shape and in cross-section, which flange is mounted relative to the upper end of the ring web in such a manner that an increased area lof wearing vsurface will be engageable by the ring traveler. By providing an annular upwardly extending V-shaped or undercut groove between the inner opposed .faces of the flange insert and the upper portion of the ring web, a larger area of the insert will be engageable by the adjacent end of the traveler.

Some of the objects of invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of my improved textile ring mounted on the ring rail of a spinning frame;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 2 2 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a setcional detail View taken along line 3 3 in FIGURE 1; Y

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the `upper central portion of FIGURE 2, :certain portions thereof being omitted;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged View diagrammaticallyfillustrating two positions occupied by the ring traveler rela-V tive to the ring flanges during a spinning or twisting operation, and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View similar to the upper right-hand portion of FGURE 4 but embodying a modifled Iform of invention.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, thenumeral 10 denotes a conventional ring rail of a spinning frame in which an annular endless ring holder 11 is detachably secured by any suitable means such as a locking ring 12, said holder having a flange 11a resting upon the upper surface of the ring rail and a peripheral groove 11b therein for receiving the locking ring and holding it against the lower surface of the'ring rail. p

Holder 11 has a vertically disposed cylindrical opening 14 therein through which a rotatable strand holder or bobbin extends. During a spinning operation, a fibrous strand 16 moves in a well-known manner from drafting rolls thereabove (not shown), underneath aC-shaped traveler 17, and then laterally onto the holder 15 (FIG- URE 2).

Traveler 17 is mounted for sliding movement upon a spinning or twisting ring broadly designated by numeral 18 and specifically comprising a cylindrical base or lower component 19, an upper cylindrical component 20 sup-l ported by the lower component, an outer flange portion 21 integral with the the upper end of component 20, and an inner flange or insert 22 detachably secured in position by the outer flange portion.

The ring components 19, 20 and 21 are preferably formed from spring metal, but obviously other materials may be utilized. The inner flange 22 may be made from a variety of choice metallic or non-metallic materials such as stainless steel, beryllium, copper, bronze, powdered metal, nylon and Teflon.

The cylindrical base portion 19 of ring 18 has formed integral therewith an outwardly extending contractible flange 25 which is adapted to fit into a re-entr-ant or undercut annular groove 26 formed in the endless -ring holder 11. Flange 25 is formed by bending the lower end of base portion 19 laterally outwardly,- then upwardly, and then laterally inwardly to form a U-shaped section. Base portion 19 and flange 2S are provided with one or more radially disposed slots 27 which facilitate contraction of the flange when inserting it into or removing it from the re-entrant groove 26. This arrangement permits the ring to be quickly removed from or snapped into concentric position relative to the holder 11. It also eliminates the necessity of employing the conventional split ring holder which requires adjustment each time a ring is inserted or removed, for example, as -in Patent No. 1,920,386. v

The cylindrical portions 19 land 20 fit one within the other land combine to form a -laminated annular ring web, said portions fbeing secured together by means such as a continuous circumferentially extending resistance weld 28. Web portion is disposed Voutside of web portion 19. The upper end of portion 20 is bent laterally outwardly, then upwardly, and then `laterally inwardly to form a substantially horizontal U-shaped loop comprising the above-mentioned outer flange 21 in which a lubricant recess or reservoir is provided. Thus, it is seen that the llaminated `web 19, 20 of ring 18 is relatively thicker and more rigid than either of the one-thickness upper and lower outer flanges 21 and 25, respectively.

The upper end of cylindrical base portion 19 and the lower proximate periphery of inner -insert flange 22 extend laterally inwardly from the inner periphery of outer cylindrical portion 20 to thereby form an annular passageway or groove 24, said groove having a re-entrant or undercut portion 24a adjacent the insert flange for the reception of one end of traveler 17 and also to afford la greater peripheral area of the insert flange for contact by the traveler. Moreover, the single web thickness of the ring immediately ibelow the upper Vflanges thereof affords the desired resilience and flexibility when expanding the slitted outer flange during reversal of the associated inner flange insert.

The inner ring flange or insert 22 is annular in shape and in cross-section and has a cross-sectional diameter substantially the same Las the depth of the outer flange 21. 4Inner flange 22 is releasably and concentrically locked in position by outer flange 21, said flange 22 being slit radially lat one or more points 30 to facilitate the expansion thereof when removing or inserting the inner flange.

It is important to note that the lower periphery of insert or inner flange 22 is positioned relative to the upper end of vertical web portion 19 so as to afford an increased area of wearing surface accessible for contact by the end of traveler 17. As previously st-ated, this result is obtained by providing an annular, upwardly extending, V- shaped groove 24a between the opposed converging faces of flange insert 22 and web portion 20 to thereby expose additional convex peripheral larea of the insert and in the path into which the traveler tends to follow when the ring rail is in lowermost position. In conventional ring construction, the lower horizontal surface of the inner flange is not recessed, but instead, is usually disposed at an angle of 90 degrees or more relative to the vertical inner web surface. In the present invention the V-shaped groove 24a -is a sharp acute angle and permits contact lby the end of traveler on the insert periphery remote from the center of ring 18.

By observing FIGURES 4 and 5, it will fbe observed that insert or inner flange 22 is pro-vided with upper and lower Wearing surfaces 22a and 22h respectively, each of which constitutes approximately one-fourth of the total periphery of the insert. These wearing surfaces may be made of the same material as the remainder of the insert, or else of a different material if conditions require.

When the wearing surface 22h becomes worn, it is only necessary to snap out the insert 22, turn it over, and snap it back in position in the ring assembly, at which time the wearing surface 22a will occupy the lowermost position previously occupied by surface 22h. Thus, two equally functional reversible wearing surfaces are provided, each such surf-ace having an exposed increased wearing area for contact by the traveler. The formation of insert flange 22 from roll wire provides traveler clearance heretofore impossible to achieve economically in standard machined rings.

As briefly mentioned above, the reversible insert o inner flange 22 serves to close the annular lubricantreceiving -recess 29 in outer flange 21. A wick 35 is removably conned in recess 29 by the insert, said Wick ibeing adapted to retain oil or lubricant therein which enters the recess through the ends 36 of a supply tube or conduit 37 (FIGURES l and 2). The tube ends 36 project in opposite directions Within recess 29 so as to facilitate the distribution of lubricant throughout the wick. The heat generated by the friction between the traveler and ring flanges during operation will cause the lubricant in the ywick to flow out of the recess onto the lower wearing surface 22b of the insert. In most installations, the permissible working clearance along the line of contact between the lower periphery of insert 22 and the outer flange 21 will permit suflicient lubricant to pass from the wick onto the insert wearing surface; however, suitable orifices 38 may be provided if additional clearance or conduit means should be required.

A pump 40 is provided for intermittently supplying metered quantities of lubricant to tube 37 and wick 35. The pump comprises a vertically disposed hollow tu'be 41 communicating with a lubricant reservoir 42 by means of Ian opening 41a. A piston 43 is mounted for vertical sliding movement within hollow tube 41. When the upper end of piston 43 occupies its lowermost position as shown in 'FIGURE 2, a metered quantity of lubricant flows from reservoir 42, laterally through opening or port 41a, and into hollow tube 41. This metered quantity of lubricant may be expelled from tube 41, into conduit 37, and onto wick 35, by raising piston 43 upwardly by means of a suitable operating means. Such operating means may be of the pneumatic type shown which cornprises =a second piston 45 integral with, but larger than, the piston 43, said second piston being `actuated -by compressed air admitted to, and discharged from, chamfber 46 through a series of passageways 48, 49 and 50. It is evident that the admission and discharge of air into and from the last-named passageways may be controlled either vby a conventional timing mechanism or in response to thel movement of some element of the spinning or twisting frame.

FIGURE 6 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which a reversible insert flange 55 yof the ring has an annular lubricant reservoir 56 therein, which reservoir communicates with the peripheral wearing surface of the insert by means of one or more orifices 57.

Lubricant is supplied to reservoir 56 by means of a conduit 37a which is identical to previously described conduit 37 except for the upper end of the latter. It will be observed that conduit 37a has its upper end portion communicating with and detacha-bly secured to entrance port 5S of the reservoir 56. Lubricant flows from conduit 37a, through port 58, into reservoir 56, and then from the reservoir by way of orice or orifices 57 to the peripheral wearing surfaces of the inner reversible flange 55.

Flange reservoir 56 is provided with a second ent-rance port 58a which, when in the uppermost position shown in FIGURE 6, is closed by a plug or removable closure 59. When the flange 55 is reversed from the position shown in FIGURE 6, however, the ports 58 and 58a exchange positions, at which time the port 58 will be in uppermost position and' closed Iby a plug 59 and the port 58a -Will be in lower-most position and connected to the upper end of conduit 37a.

In the drawings and specification a preferred embodiment of the invention has fbeen disclosed, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic sense and not intended for the purpose of limitation, the scope of invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a spinning or twisting ring, the combination of: a cylindrical web portion, a laterally and outwardly extending annular flange portion joined to the upper end of said web portion, said ange portion having therein an annular lubricant reservoir disposed adjacent said junction of the web and flange portions, an endless flange portion forming a closure for said reservoir and extending laterally inwardly from the upper end of said web portion, means adjacent said junction for conducting lubricant from said reservoir to the inwardly extending outer surface of said endless flange portion, means for reversibly securing said endless flange portion in closed position over said reservoir, a traveler slida'bly mounted upon said flange portions, a second cylindrical web portion concentrically secured to the inside surface of said first-named web portion, the upper end of said second web portion and t-he proximate face of said endless flange portion being disposed in spaced relation to one another and projecting laterally inwardly from the inside surface of said outer web portion to provide an annular groove for reception of the adjacent end of the traveler and a reduced ring web thickness for supporting said inner and outer llange po-rtions, resilient circumferentially contractible means at the lower end of said second web portion, and an endless annular ring holder interengageable with said last-named Vmeans for detachably securing said holder and second web portion together.

2. In a spinning or twisting ring, the combination of: a cylindrical web, an annular flange joined to said web and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said llange having therein an annular lubricant-receiving recess disposed adjacent said junction of the web and flange, an endless flange forming a closure for said recess and extending laterally inwardly from said web, conduit means connecting said -recess to the inwardly extending outer surface of said endless flange, means for reversibly securing said endless flange in closing position over said recess, a traveler slidably mounted upon said flanges, and a second cylindrical web concentrically mounted within said first web, one end of said second web and the proximate face of said endless flange being disposed in spaced relation and projecting late-rally inwardly from the inner periphery of said iirst web to provide an annular passageway whereby a reduced web thickness will support said flanges.

3. A spinning or twisting ring comprising: an annular web portion, an annular flange portion joined to and extending laterally outwardly from said web portion, said llange portion having therein an annular lubricant reservoir disposed adjacent said junction, an endless llange for-ming a Iclosure for said reservoir and extending laterally inwardly from said web portion, conduit means connecting said reservoir to the inwardly extending outer surface of said endless flange, and means for removably securing said endless ilange in )closing position over said reservoir.

4. A spinning or twisting ring comprising: an outer I llange portion having an annular lubricant-receiving recess therein, an endless inner llange portion removably mounted upon said outer llange portion and forming a closure for said recess, and conduit means connecting said recess to the outside surface of said endless llange.

S. A spinning or twisting ring comprising: a rigid endless inner ilange portion having upper and lower wearing surfaces thereon, and an expansi'ble outer llange portion for reversibly securing said inner portion substantially concentrically therewith.

6. In a spinning or twisting ring, the .combination of: a vertically disposed annular web, an annular llange extending laterally outwardly from said web, an annular endless llange extending inwardly from said web, said inwardly extending ange having an upper and a lower peripheral wearing surface extending therearound, and means for reversibly mounting said endless flange on said outer flange to thereby reverse the positions of said upper and lower wearing surfaces.

7. A spinning or twisting lring comprising: a vertically disposed annular web, a horizontally disposed ilange extending outwardly from said web, an endless horizontally disposed flange reversibly mounted in said first llange and extending inwardly from said web, the lower outer circumferential periphery of said endless llange being spaced from the proximate face of said web to form an upwardly extending annular groove, and lubricant supply means connected t0 said groove.

8. A spinning or twisting ring comprising: an outer flange, an endless inner flange having a lubricant reservoir therein, means for reversibly mounting said inner llange within said outer flange, and means for supplying lubricant to said reservoir in the above-named mounted positions of said inner ange.

9. A spinning or twisting ring as defined in claim 8 wherein said endless inner ilange is substantially circula-r in cross-section yand wherein said reservoir comprises an annular passageway.

10. A Aspinning or twisting ring comprising: a rigid endless inner flange, an associated outer llange, and radially expansi'ble means on said outer llange for reversibly mounting said endless flange within said outer llange.

`11. A spinning or twisting ring `as defined in Iclaim 10 and further comprising means forming -an annular lubricant reservoir in said endless flange, and conduit means connecting said reservoir with the outer surface of said endless flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 90,956 6/18619 Pierce 57-l 19 280,626 7/1883 Jaquith 57--120 598,200 2/ 1898 Gilbert 57-119 678,266 7/1901 Marcy 57-119 893,443 7/1908 Chapman 57-122 1,723,611 8/ 19129 Gilligan 57-120 2,090,137 8/1937 McLeod 57-122 X 3,081,592 3/1963 Osterman 57-120 3,095,689 7/1963 Keyser 57-120 FOREIGN PATENTS 504,845 8/1951 Belgium.

429,116 7/ 1911 France.

468,000 6/ 1937 Great Britain.

111,536 12/1925 Switzerland.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. J. PETRAKES, Examiner. 

1. IN A SPINNING OR TWISTING RING, THE COMBINATION OF: A CYLINDRICAL WEB PORTION, A LATERALLY AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE PORTION JOINED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID WEB PORTION, SAID FLANGE PORTION ADJACENT SAID AN ANNULAR LUBRICANT RESERVOIR DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID JUNCTION OF THE WEB AND FLANGE PORTIONS, AN ENDLESS FLANGE PORTION FORMING A CLOSURE FOR SAID RESERVOIR AND EXTENDING LATERALLY INWARDLY FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID WEB PORTION, MEANS ADJACENT SAID JUNCTION FOR CONDUCTING LUBRICANT FROM SAID RESERVOIR TO THE INWARDLY EXTENDING OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ENDLESS FLANGE PORTION, MEANS FOR REVERSIBLY SECURING SAID ENDLESS FLANGE PORTION IN CLOSED POSITION OVER SAID RESERVOIR, A TRAVELER SLIDABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID FLANGE PORTIONS, A SECOND CYLINDRICAL WEB PORTION CONCENTRICALLY SECURED TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID FIRST-NAMED WEB PORTION, THE UPPER END OF SAID SECOND 